DescriptionThis small toad (ranging from 38-76 mm total length) is described as having a flattened, short sub-triangular head with a pointed snout. It is the only North American toad that has small, round parotoid glands the same size as the eye plus weak or absent cranial crests (Korky 1999).
The coloration is gray or light to medium brown, with reddish to orangish warts and a white ventral stripe; sometimes the stripe has spotting (Conant and Collins 1991; Stebbins 1985) .
Korky (1999) also states, "this species is the only North American toad with round parotoids about the same size as the eye, and with cranial crests notabely weak or absent."

In the USA, the northern extent of the range is from southeastern
California east to southern Nevada, into Utah, Colorado and the
southwestern region of the state of Kansas. It occurs as far south as the tip of the
Baja California Penninsula, Mexico, and on the Mexican mainland, down to the
state of Hidalgo (Stebbins 1985) . This toad lives in rough, rocky
regions and open grasslands. It can be found near springs, seepages and
persisting pools
in the desert and in rocky crevices
(Storer 1925; Conant and Collins 1991; Stebbins 1985) .
This toad ranges in elevation from near sea level to 2,000 m
(Stebbins 1985).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special BehaviorsLike the other toads in this group, the red-spotted toad is an explosive breeder.
The eggs are laid in early April and tadpoles metamorphose within a season.
Males have melodious
call and may form breeding choruses of 2-6 males. Males actively search for
females as well (Sullivan 1984).

CommentsHybrids with other bufonid species have been found in nature (Sullivan 1990).

Many late Pleistocene and Holocene fossils have been recovered for this species at numerous sites in Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Texas as well as in Sonora,
Mexico (for complete references please see Korky 1999).
Korky (1999) has provided a long literature list for this species.